Meantime, so
great was the expectation and interest that it was not until the
minister had moved from the table that the first communicants began to
come up to the two white-hung benches, left empty till now, next to the
table.
* * * * *
Then those who still watched, and who spread the tale about afterwards,
saw that the squire did not move from his seat to kneel down. He had put
off his hat again after the homily, and had so sat ever since; and now
that the minister came to him, still there he sat.
Now such a manner of receiving was not unknown; yet it was the sign of a
Puritan; and, so far from the folk expecting such behaviour in their
squire, they had looked rather for Popish gestures, knockings on the
breast, signs of the cross.
For a moment the minister stood before the seat, as if doubtful what to
do. He held the plate in his left hand and a fragment of bread in his
fingers. Then, as he began the words he had to say, one thing at least
the people saw, and that was that a great flush dyed the old man's face,
though he sat quiet. Then, as the minister held out the bread, the
squire seemed to recover himself; he put out his fingers quickly, took
the bread sharply and put it into his mouth; and so sat again, until the
minister brought the cup; and this, too, he drank of quickly, and gave
it back.
Then, as the communicants, one by one, took the bread and wine and went
back to their seats, man after man glanced up at the squire.
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